Bangladesh stirring trouble to hide crisis
New Indian ExpressBangladesh’s economy is in a rapid nosedive, with over one million people becoming unemployed since August 5. A significant segment of its population could face acute famine, while most of the 6.5 million workers in the country’s garments sector—a key economic backbone—risk losing their jobs. Given the troubling scenario, geopolitical analysts suggest Bangladesh, once seen as a rising economic star in Asia, is on the verge of becoming another Libya, Iraq, or Pakistan. The rise of religious extremism and state- On December 7, 2024, during a program on Zee News, Irshad Ahmed Khan, a leader of Pakistan’s ruling Muslim League Nawaz, publicly admitted that Pakistan is sending weapons concealed in commercial consignments via sea routes to Bangladesh to wage war against “Indian aggression”. Allegations have also surfaced that Pakistan plans to smuggle heroin, cocaine and synthetic opioids concealed within sugar consignments to Western destinations through Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Indian ports.